What is that in your hand?
A voice within my dream inquired. Sudden and distinct, the question woke me from my slumber. I peered at my hand, but my palm was empty . . . vacant. At first glance, I held nothing in my hand.
All the while, my mind struggled to remember. Where have I heard this before and what could it mean?
Out of my sleepy haze, the context came to me. Of course. This is a passage from Exodus, the burning bush conversation. God asked Moses this question when He called him out of the wilderness to rescue the Israelites from Egypt.
Moses asked the Lord, “Suppose everyone refuses to listen to my message, and no one believes that you really appeared to me?”
Exodus 4: 1 CEV
Moses is unsure of his ability to convince the Israelites that what he says is true. But, instead of answering his uncertainty, God asks another question of Moses.
The Lord answered, “What is that in your hand?”
Exodus 4:2 CEV“A walking stick,” Moses replied.
In other words, . . . What are your resources, Moses? What do you hold in your hand that I can use?
“Throw it down,” the Lord commanded. So Moses threw the stick on the ground. It immediately turned into a snake, and Moses jumped back.
“Pick it up by the tail!” the Lord told him. And when Moses did this, the snake turned back into a walking stick.
“Do this,” the Lord said, “and the Israelites will believe that you have seen me, the God who was worshipped by their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Exodus 4:3-4 CEV
This conversation between God and Moses reminds me of another dialog around 1400 years later between Jesus and His disciples. Jesus asks them a crucial question prior to the miracle of the feeding of the 5000.
“How much bread do you have? Go and see.”
They found out and answered, “We have five small loaves of bread and two fish.”
Mark 6:38 CEV
A situation that appears impossible is full of possibility when Jesus is involved. He takes our meager resources and multiplies them exponentially for His glory.
Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples to give to the people. He also divided the two fish, so everyone could have some.
After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus’ disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftover bread and fish. There were 5000 men who ate the food.
Mark 6:41-44 CEV
The Lord of the universe asked . . . What is that in your hand? How much bread do you have? Doesn’t He ask the same of you and me today?
When I first look at my hands, I see nothing of use to Jesus. However, with closer inspection, I see clearly that my medical knowledge, my writing ability, and my circle of influence are all blessings given to me by God. If I’m willing to place these resources at His feet, He multiples them and miracles happen.
So, on this Thanksgiving holiday, I encourage you to evaluate your own resources. Be grateful for all that God has given you. But also ask yourself these crucial questions. What is in your hand that God can use? How much bread do you have that you can share with others? By holding tightly to these blessings, are you stifling a miracle ready to happen?
With courage, a willing heart and open hands, God can use even meager resources for His glory. So, offer Him your walking stick or your loaves and fishes, whatever resources you have. Then stand back and watch His miraculous multiplication manifest itself right before your eyes.
